When You Reach Me Chapter 23 Summary

Messy Things

• Back at school Annemarie washes the turkey from her hands in the bathroom with Miranda.
• When they get back to the classroom, Julia is waiting for them. She comments about the mustard stain on Annemarie's "favorite" turquoise sweater (23.8).
• Julia asks Annemarie why she even works at Jimmy's – she doesn't need the money. Annemarie tells Julia that they're paid in sandwiches.
• Julia mentions that Annemarie shouldn't even be eating sandwiches or drinking sodas. (Weird.)
• Back in class Mr. Tompkins has put a book on Miranda's desk – Harriet the Spy, we think – but Miranda opens up her favorite book, A Wrinkle in Time, instead.
• In the book Meg is on the planet Camazotz and boys are jumping up and down on identical balls – except for one boy who is outside alone.
• All of a sudden, Miranda feels a stinging behind her ear. Julia has shot a rubber band at her. It's war.